Robert Skidmore

The Honorable Robert W. Skidmore, retired Federal Bankruptcy Judge residing in Tacoma, passed away on June 11, 2024 at 102 years of age. Bob was born in Tacoma and graduated from Lincoln High School. He then attended the College of Puget Sound but his time there was interrupted by WWII. He joined the Navy Seabee construction battalion and spent 2 1/2 years serving in the Pacific theater. He returned to CPS in the fall of 1946 where he met Helen Neate his future wife of 65 years. They married a week after graduation. Bob continued his education at the University of Washington Law School.

He practiced law in Tacoma until 1974 when he was appointed Bankruptcy Judge for the US District for the Western District of Washington. While judge, he also served on a national Bankruptcy committee for three years. He sat on the bench for nearly 20 years. During this time he was also active in the Tacoma Elks 174 and was elected Exalted Ruler for 1978-79. He served on the National Elks Judiciary Committee.

Bob enjoyed his computer and iphone and he was an especially avid reader. He always had a nonfiction book with him usually focusing on history and biographies. He read over 1500 books in his lifetime. He enjoyed being active. He especially loved tennis and played until he was 93. He then picked up pickle ball for a while. In later years, he made sure he walked a mile every day.

At the age of 92 he began auditing classes at UPS on Asian Political Systems and the Chinese Political Economy. He actively engaged in class discussions. His professor published an article about him in the Winter 2015 Arches, UPS alumni magazine. At this time, Bob also volunteered at the Tacoma Rescue Mission serving meals. He traveled to China at the age of 93 and Washington DC with Honor Flight at 96.

Bob is survived by his daughters Diana Ledesma and Allison Granger, his three grandchildren Jason Ledesma and his wife McKenna, Callie Nelsen and her husband Brett, Christa Ledesma, his five great grandchildren Berkley, Lauren, and Kennedy Ledesma, Bennett and Weston Nelsen and his son-in-law Dave Ledesma.

Bob lived a remarkably full life. He was devoted to his family, always interested in what every member was doing. He will be greatly missed.